INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 24, 2007

A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of May 2007 as "Hepatitis Awareness Month"
2 in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Hepatitis is a liver disease caused by one of five
4 forms of the hepatitis virus; and
5 WHEREAS, Hepatitis infects individuals of all ages, ethnic
6 groups and socioeconomic classes in urban and rural areas of
7 this Commonwealth; and
8 WHEREAS, The hepatitis viruses, designated as A, B, C, D and
9 E, cause infections which are generally asymptomatic but which
10 lead to liver inflammation; and
11 WHEREAS, Hepatitis A is contracted primarily through

1 contaminated food or water; and
2 WHEREAS, Hepatitis C is the leading reason for liver
3 transplantation and now exceeds HIV/AIDS by a 5 to 1 ratio; and
4 WHEREAS, On average, two people are diagnosed with hepatitis-
5 related liver disease and two people die from liver cancer each
6 day in the United States; and
7 WHEREAS, The World Health Organization has characterized
8 hepatitis B and hepatitis C as diseases of primary concern for
9 humanity; and
10 WHEREAS, Hepatitis A and hepatitis B can easily be prevented
11 through awareness of transmission routes and through available
12 vaccines; and
13 WHEREAS, An estimated 280,000 residents of this Commonwealth
14 are infected with hepatitis C, and 75% to 85% of these persons
15 are chronically infected; and
16 WHEREAS, In the absence of a vaccine for hepatitis C,
17 emphasis must be placed on other means of disease prevention,
18 including education of health care workers, emergency services
19 workers, veterans and the general public; and
20 WHEREAS, Chronic viral hepatitis is a disease with little or
21 no public awareness since it is largely asymptomatic until
22 irreversible liver damage has occurred; and
23 WHEREAS, In the past year, five new hepatitis screening sites
24 have opened in this Commonwealth; and
25 WHEREAS, There remains a need for more hepatitis screening
26 and testing sites in this Commonwealth; therefore be it
27 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
28 month of May 2007 as "Hepatitis Awareness Month" in
29 Pennsylvania; and be it further
30 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage State
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1 agencies, health care providers and residents of this
2 Commonwealth to learn and educate others about the causes,
3 symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis, with prevention
4 being the primary focus among younger Pennsylvanians; and be it
5 further
6 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage State
7 agencies and health care providers to integrate hepatitis
8 services with existing services which target similar risks
9 groups, such as HIV and AIDS targeted populations, and to
10 connect persons with hepatitis with appropriate care using the
11 Commonwealth's resource directory.
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